Knickerbocker loyal to Bethel's greater good

www.anybodybutburke.com

Matt is a good and decent guy. Good luck to him in November because the town could benefit greatly from what he has to offer.

Matt is loyal only to Dr Chesley. He never voted NO on any matter at BOE that Chesley wanted. There has never been leadership on BOE; just follow the dictates of Dr. Chesley. Chesley and Burke are of the same mold which is why they did not work together. Judy and Alice have more balls than Matt and I don't want either of them in office again. Look for town employee layoffs and more money pi**ed away at the BOE. Both of these will set us back and the entire town itself will suffer. Matt, repeat after me...."There is more to Bethel than just the school system." We are a Town, not an educational park.

oldcoon wrote:

Matt is loyal only to Dr Chesley. He never voted NO on any matter at BOE that Chesley wanted. There has never been leadership on BOE; just follow the dictates of Dr. Chesley. Chesley and Burke are of the same mold which is why they did not work together. Judy and Alice have more balls than Matt and I don't want either of them in office again. Look for town employee layoffs and more money pi**ed away at the BOE. Both of these will set us back and the entire town itself will suffer. Matt, repeat after me...."There is more to Bethel than just the school system." We are a Town, not an educational park.

just the start of the crnic gaita slime machine! Expect more

Matt is a nice guy and a gentleman. He is very concerned about the schools - that will be his main priority.

I am not sure what Gaita's motivations are, but I saw those videos years ago and also saw some falsehoods coming out of the school lobby camp, particularly the interview with the state rep.

If I am lied to even once, I really have to question credibility. It bothers me.

I think Matt is a capable person, and after the years of the anti-tax barrage, I'm willing to give he and Chesley a pass if they happened to mislead for their own purposes sometimes.

Over the last 3 years, initial town budgets were shot down about 4 times, at least. Test scores have gone up - a credit to Dr.Chesley, and prove throwing money at a problem is not the main solution.

So, Dr.Chesley is doing the right thing for the students by asking for as much as he can get. He should never be lambasted for those efforts - he's trust trying to get as many tools to put his best team on the field.

But here has to be checks and balances. One of these checks and balances are the voters who rejected those budgets. Another needs to be the Board of Selectmen, particularly the First Selectman.

Had Matt been the First Selectman, it is a little scary when you think he has never met a first submitted budget that he didn't like, and that wasn't a significant increase.

I have children in the system and am worried we'll have no one in the 1st Selectman's office who will scrutinize these budgets.

I think by observing the improved test scores, that you could make a logical case that the school survived pretty well without those tax increases to financially strapped Bethel residents. And I think you could also make a case that anyone who was looking to increase taxes in this economy didn't have a realistic grasp on the plight of the average family or senior, and doesn't understand there's a difference between what someone wants and what someone needs.

So, Matt's a nice fella and has his heart in the right place, but there is no way I could vote for him.

Matt has done a great job for the BOE and Bethel Education with the money that the taxpayers gave him.

He will do the same for the entire town as First Selectman.

Remember: The voters have the final say in any given budget. The first selectman has no magical power to raise your taxes.
Don't buy into the fear and scare tactics of the cynics.

Go Matt wrote:

Don't buy into the fear and scare tactics of the cynics.

Don't buy into the fear and scare tactics of the Crnics.

If Mr. Knickerbocker's years as Chairman of the Board of Ed. are any indication of what his administration will be like then expect imformation to be tightly controlled and citizen expression and participation to be limited and regulated. Expect he and Dr. Chesley to run Town Hall like a Prussian Parade where Town Employees will be isolated and made to feel powerless and fearful while it is all done with a veneer of courtesy.

Like it is wrote:

Matt is a nice guy and a gentleman. He is very concerned about the schools - that will be his main priority.
I am not sure what Gaita's motivations are, but I saw those videos years ago and also saw some falsehoods coming out of the school lobby camp, particularly the interview with the state rep.
If I am lied to even once, I really have to question credibility. It bothers me.
I think Matt is a capable person, and after the years of the anti-tax barrage, I'm willing to give he and Chesley a pass if they happened to mislead for their own purposes sometimes.
Over the last 3 years, initial town budgets were shot down about 4 times, at least. Test scores have gone up - a credit to Dr.Chesley, and prove throwing money at a problem is not the main solution.
So, Dr.Chesley is doing the right thing for the students by asking for as much as he can get. He should never be lambasted for those efforts - he's trust trying to get as many tools to put his best team on the field.
But here has to be checks and balances. One of these checks and balances are the voters who rejected those budgets. Another needs to be the Board of Selectmen, particularly the First Selectman.
Had Matt been the First Selectman, it is a little scary when you think he has never met a first submitted budget that he didn't like, and that wasn't a significant increase.
I have children in the system and am worried we'll have no one in the 1st Selectman's office who will scrutinize these budgets.
I think by observing the improved test scores, that you could make a logical case that the school survived pretty well without those tax increases to financially strapped Bethel residents. And I think you could also make a case that anyone who was looking to increase taxes in this economy didn't have a realistic grasp on the plight of the average family or senior, and doesn't understand there's a difference between what someone wants and what someone needs.
So, Matt's a nice fella and has his heart in the right place, but there is no way I could vote for him.

Matt was on the board of ed, OF COURSE as a BOE member he is going to try and get the best deal for the schools that he could. It was up to the board of finance, the board of selectman and ultimately the people of bethel to decide if the toen could afford it or not. If Matt or any other school board member compromised at the beginning and only proposed budgets they knew were too low to be argued over they would not be doing their jobs!

IT IS NOT THE JOB OF THE BOE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE TOWN CAN AFFORD. IT IS THE JOB OF THE BOE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SCHOOLS NEED! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEADS, OR TAKE A BASIC CITIZEN CLASS IF YOU NEED TO!

The BOF, the selectm and and the people ultimately determine what the town can afford.

As chairman of the BOE Matt has always been willing to work with the town to come up with school budgets most everyone can ultimately live with. And he does it politely, professionally and without regard to party affiliation. As far as I know he has never been demanding, unyielding or unrealistic about budgets. And just because he has been BOE chair there is absolutely no reason to think he is ready to throw the rest of the town under the bus for the sake of the schools. That's like saying someone from the Inland Wetlands Commission can never run for first selelctman because all they will think about is wetlands!

You make a number of allusions to a lack of credibility yet you never actually give any examples. This makes me think that your whole post is just an excuse to "dam with faint praise." Give some examples of unethical behavior or keep quiet.

citizen cane wrote:

<quoted text>
Give some examples of unethical behavior or keep quiet.

You have some valid points. I find your reply is pretty rude and insulting, and a reason others wouldn't begin to listen to the persuasiveness of your argument. That's unfortunate, because I'm assuming that wasn't your intent.

I have examples. If you have an email address I'll send them others to you.

They are obvious ones and I'd be interested in hearing you defend them - I really am uncomfortable thinking ill of people and do think Matt menas well. I think his belief was the ends would justify the means.

Let's start with going on cable last year during a critical time and agreeing that BB took a raise while "forcing" the BOE into pay to play.

Completely false statement. On video. It bothered me.

I respect your opinion, politely. Thanks for doing the same.

The arrogance and the name-calling is a persuasive reason to vote for the other candidate and pray he's innocent, espeially with a November election down the road. And sadly, Matt may be the right guy.

I'm just not sure.

I certainly never called you or anyone else names! And I think its a bit egregious to label a difference of opinion as Knickerbocker being unethical! He has his point of view and you obviously have yours. I have never heard of him acting anything other than honest and professional and I try to keep track of these things.

I am a bit exasperated by the anti education lobby (you know, the ones who think Dr. Chesley is satan) claiming that Matt, or the BOE in general is responsible for driving up taxes. The BOE can't impose taxes on anyone. Ultimately the PEOPLE OF BETHEL decide on what the budgets will be, not the BOE, not even the selectman. You can't shoot the messenger for pointing out that a school needs a new science teacher to keep its accreditation, or a new boiler to get through the winter--although many simple-minded folk see that as a solution.

Its still early in the campaign but I have yet to see Knickerbocker or Straiton call anyone names or engage in any sort of negative campaigning even though they have ample opportunity! Add to that the fact that the democratic party (which I am NOT a member of BTW)seems to not be involved in any of the back-stabbing behavior of their republican and third party colleagues.

correction wrote:

Don't buy into the fear and scare tactics of the Crnics.

BINGO.
This forum is oozing with his posts.

anybodybutburke.com

First Things First wrote:

anybodybutburke.com

Here's why:
Burke2009.com

Here's why: Craybas09.com

Burke will win wrote:

<quoted text> Here's why:
Burke2009.com

http://www.google.com/search?h l=en&lr=&q=Bob+burke+s electman&aq=f&oq=& aqi=
Most common theme is "arrested"

Like it is wrote:

Matt is a nice guy and a gentleman. He is very concerned about the schools - that will be his main priority.
I am not sure what Gaita's motivations are, but I saw those videos years ago and also saw some falsehoods coming out of the school lobby camp, particularly the interview with the state rep.
If I am lied to even once, I really have to question credibility. It bothers me.
I think Matt is a capable person, and after the years of the anti-tax barrage, I'm willing to give he and Chesley a pass if they happened to mislead for their own purposes sometimes.
Over the last 3 years, initial town budgets were shot down about 4 times, at least. Test scores have gone up - a credit to Dr.Chesley, and prove throwing money at a problem is not the main solution.
So, Dr.Chesley is doing the right thing for the students by asking for as much as he can get. He should never be lambasted for those efforts - he's trust trying to get as many tools to put his best team on the field.
But here has to be checks and balances. One of these checks and balances are the voters who rejected those budgets. Another needs to be the Board of Selectmen, particularly the First Selectman.
Had Matt been the First Selectman, it is a little scary when you think he has never met a first submitted budget that he didn't like, and that wasn't a significant increase.
I have children in the system and am worried we'll have no one in the 1st Selectman's office who will scrutinize these budgets.
I think by observing the improved test scores, that you could make a logical case that the school survived pretty well without those tax increases to financially strapped Bethel residents. And I think you could also make a case that anyone who was looking to increase taxes in this economy didn't have a realistic grasp on the plight of the average family or senior, and doesn't understand there's a difference between what someone wants and what someone needs.
So, Matt's a nice fella and has his heart in the right place, but there is no way I could vote for him.

Dan, you are SO easily recognized. It's fun watching you try to sound like 12 different people.

hahaha is back wrote:

Dan, you are SO easily recognized. It's fun watching you try to sound like 12 different people.

My favorite is the one who hates blacks and thinks everyone is Peter L_rman.

oldcoon wrote:

Matt is loyal only to Dr Chesley. He never voted NO on any matter at BOE that Chesley wanted. There has never been leadership on BOE; just follow the dictates of Dr. Chesley. Chesley and Burke are of the same mold which is why they did not work together. Judy and Alice have more balls than Matt and I don't want either of them in office again. Look for town employee layoffs and more money pi**ed away at the BOE. Both of these will set us back and the entire town itself will suffer. Matt, repeat after me...."There is more to Bethel than just the school system." We are a Town, not an educational park.

what a dufus! matt is on the BOE what do you expect him to be working on? the sewer system? the downtown development. newsflash! The members of the BOARD OF EDUCATION work on....drumroll please...THE SCHOOLS!!! who do you expect him to work with? the city engineer? the town accountant? another newsflash! the BOARD OF EDUCATION members work with the guy hired to run the schools.....THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT! wow, doesn't it all make sense now!

its going to get a bit more complicated here so try to stay focused. who determines the final budgets for the town? dr. chesly? no! the BOE? no! the BOF? no! the first selectman? no! its THE PEOPLE! as in "we the people"--but i won't expect you to catch that reference. it involves being an informed citizen not a tin-foil-hat-wearing loon.

ironyman wrote:

<quoted text>
what a dufus! matt is on the BOE what do you expect him to be working on? the sewer system? the downtown development. newsflash! The members of the BOARD OF EDUCATION work on....drumroll please...THE SCHOOLS!!! who do you expect him to work with? the city engineer? the town accountant? another newsflash! the BOARD OF EDUCATION members work with the guy hired to run the schools.....THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT! wow, doesn't it all make sense now!
its going to get a bit more complicated here so try to stay focused. who determines the final budgets for the town? dr. chesly? no! the BOE? no! the BOF? no! the first selectman? no! its THE PEOPLE! as in "we the people"--but i won't expect you to catch that reference. it involves being an informed citizen not a tin-foil-hat-wearing loon.

Speak for yourself Mr. Dolan. I see your wife, Sue, is burning up the phone lines rallying the soccer moms and doing her mentor, Dr. Chesley's bidding.